Anonymous wrote:PP-- do you have a child at Landon or are you just going by gossip?

Landon's athlete cheating culture and administrative blind eye is well known. The SAT cheating scandal was one they couldn't ignore, but it hardly is the only incident.

About 1/4 of Landon's senior were in the commended category (top 5% nationally) in the latest National Merit testing. There were 3 semifinalists (1 the previous year) which is top 1% of test takers in the jurisdiction -- that averages to 2.5%. GDS says it averages a little over 1/3 in the commended category and typically has a bit over 10% (which means over a dozen kids) in the semifinalist category. I think Sidwell and the Cathedral Schools are probably a few % points higher that GDS (e.g. 12% vs. 15%) wrt semifinalists; don't know about commended. Bullis has only had 1 semifinalist in each of the past two years. Maret, with a smaller class than Bullis or Landon (I think) had 4 last year. Again, I didn't see commended stats. All the privates pale by comparison to Thomas Jefferson on these measures. (I think they have about 1/3 semifinalists).

While Sidwell/GDS/StA/NCS/Holton get the lion's share of the semifinalists compared to other local privates, it's unclear how big the spread is at the next cut (and whether it varies from school to school -- it's easier to find a few super-high-scorers than to field a cohort of high scorers. And the Semifinalist cut is the more highly publicized one (and the one that probably has more to do with admissions than quality of education).

No gossip. Experience.

PP-- do you have a child at Landon or are you just going by gossip?

I would agree with 23:50 poster. Landon's focus is on athletics. Athletes are allowed lots of behavioral and academic concessions.

Agree PP. The only school listed that is second tier here is Bullis. One person seems to be a big Bullis booster...it may even be OP who is trying to put Bullis in the same breath as the others when it is for kids who are more average. The grades and test scores needed to get into Bullis are lower. I know because my kid applied to most of these schools. We kept getting cards from Bullis students trying to get her to go there.

Anonymous wrote:The comments above are interesting.

Bullis seems to raise most interest (pros/cons) ... possibly big changes for the better academically in recent years?

Maret and Potomac got some mild reaction ... middle-of-the road schools?

GDS, Sidwell, Landon got no reaction ... reputation and results beyond dispute?

To call Maret and Potomac "middle of the road" is pretty laughable... Potomac's been nationally ranked in the top 25 private schools in the country, and Maret's known as one of the toughest schools to get into in the middle atlantic region. Landon, on the other hand, gets a mixed reputation -- great athletics but questionable academics. I'd do some more research before you try and infer the reputations of schools from one thread on an anonymous message board.

The comments above are interesting.

Bullis seems to raise most interest (pros/cons) ... possibly big changes for the better academically in recent years?

Maret and Potomac got some mild reaction ... middle-of-the road schools?

GDS, Sidwell, Landon got no reaction ... reputation and results beyond dispute?

Anonymous wrote:Bullis is well below the others academically. Sorry.

I don't have a kid at Bullis, but this reputation may be out of date.

10:34,
Interesting. Of course Sidwell wouldn't hire him if he hadn't done a great job at Bullis.

Anonymous wrote:Tom Farquhar, head of Bullis since 2002, becomes Head of Sidwell this summer. So Bullis must be doing something right.

He is also a Quaker and former member of the faculty there.

Anonymous wrote:Bullis is well below the others academically. Sorry.

What do you base that on? Do you have children there and at another school so that you are able to make a direct comparison? Is their curriculum different?

Tom Farquhar, head of Bullis since 2002, becomes Head of Sidwell this summer. So Bullis must be doing something right.

Bullis is well below the others academically. Sorry.

I'd disagree with the comments about Maret -- it's a really balanced, healthy, whole place, with great academics and amazing athletics for its size. GDS doesn't even have football, but Maret defeated Potomac and Sidwell this fall. Also routinely wins in baseball, softball, and volleyball, and the small size allows for more playing time for kids who are less-than-elite athletes. Fantastic art, drama and music, with award-winning a capella and a huge percentage of the student body singing and traveling with the concert choir. Top college placements. Might not be what you're looking for, but an excellent school.